Valve stem and valve



J. C. CROWLEY VALVE 'STEM AND VALVE Filed March 18, 1946 Oct. 12, 1948.

I N VEN TOR. .Tof/N C. CROWLEY H 770/? Nif-g5 Il 1l Patented Oct. 12, 1948 VALVE STEM AND VALVE 'John C. Crowley, Willoughby, Ghio, assigner. to The rDill Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 18, 1946, Serial No. 655,085

(Cl. l`152-415) 6 Claims. l

This invention relates to a valve stem and valve particularly .adapted to Ybe used with an article that is to beinflated withliquid as, for example, the tires used on tractors .or similar Work apparatus.

It .has been found that the ination of large tires, such as used on tractors, earth moving equipment and similar pieces of apparatus, with liquid results in increased traction and longer life, `thus eecting important economies in fuel consumption and amount of work that can be accomplished in a, .given length .of time. The liquidused to so `inflate the tires may be water or some suitable .anti-freeze mixture, such as calcium chloridesolution. The tires may be inflated either partially or .completely with liquid, and .in the latter instance itis necessary to completely exhaust the -air from the tires in order that .theymay be completely .filled with .the liquid. Heretofore it has been .necessary to completely removethe air valve, core or core hou-sing .from the valve stem of .the tires toe'ect this exhausting of the air and subsequent refilling withlliquid, since .the space around theconven-- tional core of the valve in the valve stem is too small to allow .a very. rapid .flow of liquid. This removal-of the valve core or core housing is not desirable because, after the rfilling with the liquid is completed, the reinsertion of the core or core .housing veither requires a special apparatus or-else considerableliquidis lost during the operation.

.It is, .thereforaan object of this .invention to provide an improved valve stem and valve for an .inflatable article which will facilitate .the exhaustion of air Yfrom the articleand the introduction of liquid therein without the necessity of completely removing vthe usual valve core or core housing.

A 'further object of the invention is to p-rovide an limproved valve means for Vuse Awith articles that areto be inflated with liquid which includes the ,usual removable valve core 'in a corehousing, Lbut is so constructed that the said core and housing do .not have to be removed from the valvemeans-prior to exhausting the air from the .article and inflating the .latter with liquid.

A further object of the .invention is to provide an improved valve.means for `an inflatable article, .the said valve meansl having an opening through the side wall thereof for exhausting the air .and admitting liquidand provided .with a tubular means, preferably constituting .a core housing, having a sealing element thereon for selectively sealing .and unsealing said opening.

A still further object of the invention isto providean improved valve means for an inflatable .article in which the usual valve core mem# ber is .mounted-in a longitudinally movable tubular housing extending .within the said valve means and provided witha sealing means `operating to seal .andu'nsea1 a .lling opening provided in .the .wall of said valve means.

Itis also an-objectof the invention .to provide animp-roved valve means -for an .inflatable article, having a filling opening in the Wall 'of the valve means, Ywith an yadapter for connection of a Conduit to said opening.

QFurther and additional objects and advan- 15 tages will become apparent during .the following detailedA description of one embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated .in Athe accomf panying drawing wherein:

,-Fig. lis.alongitudinaLsectional view through a valve .stem .and valve, constructed in accordance with thisv invention, anda portion of an inflatable article to which .the valve and valve stem .are attached, the .position of the parts .be-

ing such that .the fluid opening .in the VWall ofr the valve stem is sealed;

.Fig..2 is a View similar to ,Figi and shows I.an adapter .mounted upon the valve stemto Aprovide a connection toa iluid conduit, the kparts being shown in a position such that the Viiuid opening in the valve is .only partially sealed;

Fig. 3'is .a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in a position such that the fluid passage- Way is completely open;

Fig. 4 .is .a longitudinal, sectional viewof the adapter shown .in Figs. 2 and 3.

`In`Fig. 1 the improved valve meansindicated generally at l0, has a rubber base Il molded and vulcanized to its inner end, whichhas the usual flanges and projections provided for this purpose. The rubber base i l is vulcanized or other. wise attached to a portion of an inflatable article .l2 so that the passageway Il in the valve means communicates with the interior of the article. Thevalve means I!! is shown as constructed of :an inner stem portion I3 and an outer sleeve portion I4 connected together by threads I'5 provided upon the outer end of the stem I3 and'the internal surface of the inner end of sleeve t4 with the outer end of the sleeve projecting beyond the outer end of the stem I3.

While the valve ,means has been shown as formed'in two pieces, it will be obvious that it can beformed from a'greater number of separate elements .connected "together or as one integral piece.

The sleeve member I4 has a transversely extending bore I6, forming air exhausting and liquid filling openings, through the walls of the sleeve and communicating with the passageway I'I provided in the stem portion I3 which is in communication with the interior of the article I2. The inner end of the sleeve member I4 butts against the outer surface of a shoulder I8 formed on an enlarged portion I9 of the stem I3, the circumference of this enlarged portion I9 being provided with threads for a purpose later to be described.

Extending into the outer portion of theV interior of sleeve I4 is a tubular member or core housing which has a flange 2l provided adjacent its inner end upon which is mounted a sealing means 2Ia, formed from rubber, leather or other" suitable material having a diameter such as to have a sliding fit in sleeve I4 and a length such that when positioned, `as shown in Fig. 1, it will completely seal the openings provided Aby the bore I6. Immediately beyond the flange 2| the tubular member or housing 20 has a reduced portion 22, while the diameter of the outer end of the tubular member or housing 20 is less than that of the internal diameter of the said sleeve.

A second sleeve or actuator member 23 surrounds a part of this outer portion of tubular member or valve core housing 20 and extends within the outer end of the first-mentioned sleeve, the outer end of the core housing 29 projecting beyond the outer end of the sleeve or actuator 23. The inner ends of this actuator 23 are turned inwardly into the space provided by the reduced diameter 22 of the housing member 20 so that there is provided a swivel connectionbetween these two members. The outer end of sleeve or actuator 23 projects beyond the outer end of sleeve I4 and has an enlarged head portion 24 which may have a polygonal shape or be provided L with other expedients whereby it may be grasped and turned. The outer end of the sleeve I4 is curved inwardly to engage the external surface of the actuator 23 below the head 24, the said members having a sliding t at this point.

A threaded portion 25 is provided in the circumference of actuator 23 for cooperation withI a threaded portion 26 upon the internal surface of sleeve I4 so that when the head portion 24 is rotated, the actuator 23 will move relative to sleeve I4, the actuator 23 carrying with it the tubular housing member 20 and the sealing means 2Ia. There is thus provided a valve formed by the said sealing means 2Ia for controlling the bore or opening I5 through which air may be exhausted and liquid introduced into the interior of the inatable article in a manner subsequently to be described. n

The internal surface of sleeve I4 immediately below the threaded portion 26 is provided with a curved shoulder 26a which is engaged by the sealing means 2Ia when the latter is .moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 to open the said liquid passage through the bore I6. This cooperation of the sealing means 2Ia with the shoulder'ZaI seals the space between the housing member 2l!V and the sleeve I4 to prevent the entrance of air or the escape of liquid through the outer end of the valvemeans. Y

The tubular housing member 20 has a longi Y tudinally extending bore 2'I similar to the bores 4 the addition of air to the interior of the inflatable article if it be desired to employ air either wholly or partially as the inflating means.

Turning now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, I have shown a connector or adapter, generally designated 29, for attachment to the valve means I0 so that a conduit (not shown) may be attached for the purpose of exhausting air from the inflatable article and filling it with liquid. This connector or adapter, which is shown in position upon the valve means in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a generally cylindrical portion 30 having a lateral extension 3|. The cylindrical portion 30 is suitably bored so as to have a sliding lit over the sleeve I4 and stem I3 of the valve means. The lower end of the bore in the adapter 29 is provided with a threaded portion 33 cooperating with an externally threaded portion on a sleeve nut 34 which threadedly engages the enlarged portion I 9 of stem I3 to secure the adapter 29 in place. While the construction of the adapter isshown as generally cylindrical and having a separate nut for securing itto the valve means, it will be readily apparent that it may be con- I' structed in diierent shapes and with an integral portion for cooperation with said valve means.

The lateral extension 3I of the adapter 29 is provided with a bore 35, which communicates with the opening provided by the bore I6 in the sleeve member I4 when theadapter is positioned on the -valve stem. The outer end of extension 3l may be provided with threads or other means for connecting a conduit thereto. To'provide a fluid-tight seal between the adapter and the valve means, therupper end of the cylindrical portion of the adapter 29 has a counterbore 36 in which is positioned a packing means 3'I retained by aV 2Ia is in sealing engagement with shoulderZa. The adapter 29 is then applied to the valve means .I0 (if it is not already thereon) and occupies the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thereupon the attendant applies a suitable conduit to the end of lateral extension 3I of adapter 29 and connects said conduit to a means for evacuating the air from the inflatable article and subsequently filling with liquid through the same conduit. A

number of different devices for eiectin'g this evacuation and filling are available, and since they do not form a part of this invention,`they K are not here illustrated. kAfter the air has been completely exhausted, liquid is caused to ilowV through the passageprovided by bores 35, I6 and I'I until the inflatable article is completely filled.

The actuator 23 is then rotated in a reversedirection, thus moving the sealing means 2Ia, from its sealing engagement with the shoulder 26a, as

shown in Fig. 3, to a position where the said seal-` ing means completely closes y the opening through the bore I6, as shown in Fig.. l. may then be removed, since it is Vno longer necessary, and the liquid will be retained within the inflated article until it is desired to release it therefrom.

In the event the filling of theinatable article is Yto be partially liquid and partially air, the liquid Y TheV adapter 29V may be placed therein as previously described to the desired extent, whereupon the valve means 2|a is operated to its closed position, as shown in Fig. l, and the desired air pressure is then introduced through the valve core 28. In this type of filling, the air must be replenished from time to time and this can be readily accomplished by applying the usual air line -to the end of the tubular member 2U.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment 0f the invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be coni-ined to the exact construction illustrated but desire to cover all modifications coming within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising, a tubular stem means having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and an opening extending through the wall thereof and communicating with the passageway, means on the inner end of said stem means for connection thereof to an inatable article with the passageway therethrough in communication with the interior of said article, a tubular member eX- tending into the outer end of the passageway through said stem means and movable longitudinally therein, sealing means on a portion of the exterior surface of said tubular member within said stem means, a sleeve member surrounding a portion of said tubular member and extending into the outer end of the passageway in said stem means, means on the outer end of said sleeve member for rotating it, and means interconnecting said stem means, sleeve and tubular member so constructed and arranged that rotation of the sleeve produces longitudinal movement of the tubular member within the stem means to selectively seal and unseal the opening in the stem means.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 and further comprising, a connector having a longitudinal bore therethrough adapted to be fitted over said stem means, a transverse extension on said connector having a bore therethrough adapted to communicate with said opening in the stem means, and means to releasably retain said connector on said stem means.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 and further comprising, a cylindrical member adapted to be fitted over said stem means, a transverse extension on said cylindrical member having a bore therethrough adapted to communicate with said opening in the stem means, cooperating means carried by said stem means and one end of said cylindrical member to releasably retain said cylindrical member on said stem means, and sealing means carried by the other end of said cylindrical member to form a fluid-tight seal with said stem means.

4. A device of the character described comprising, a tubular stem means having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and an opening extending through the wall thereof and communicating with the passageway, means for connecting a iiuid conduit to said opening, means on the inner end of said stem means for connection thereof to an iniiatable article with the passageway therethrough in communication with the interior of said article, a tubular member extending into the outer end of the passageway through said stem means and movable longitudinally therein, said member having a bore therethrough communicating with the passageway in said stem means and adapted to receive a valve for air, the outer end of said tubular member being adapted to receive an air line, sealing means on a portion of the exterior surface of said tubular member within said stem means, an actuator surrounding a portion of said tubular member and extending into the outer end of the passageway in said stem means, means on the outer end of said actuator for rotating it and means interconnecting said actuator with said stem -means and said tubular member so constructed and arranged that rotation of the actuator produces longitudinal movement of the tubular member and the sealing means thereon between a position where said sealing means seals the passage of fluid through said opening in the stem member and a second position where the said passage of fluid is permitted and the space between the stem means and said tubular member sealed.

5. A valve stem and valve for an inflatable article comprising, a tubular stem adapted to have the inner end thereof attached to said inliatable article with the passage through said stem in communication with the interior of said article, a sleeve member connected at its inner end to said stem and extending-above the outer end of said stem, said sleeve being provided with a transversely extending opening communicating with the passage through said stem, a tubular core housing member extending into the outer end of said sleeve and movable longitudinally therein, said housing member having a bore therethrough communicating with the passage in said stem, a valve core in said bore, valve means on a portion of the exterior surface of said tubular member within said sleeve, an actuator surrounding a portion of said tubular member and extending into the outer end of said sleeve member, means swivelly connecting said actuator to said tubular member, cooperating threads on said sleeve and actuator, and means on the outer end of said actuator for rotating it, whereby said cooperating threads will be effective to move the tubular member and the valve means thereon longitudinally within the sleeve member between a position where said valve means seals the opening in said sleeve and a second position where the said opening is unsealed and the space between the sleeve and said tubular member is sealed.

6. The combination as dened in claim 5 and further comprising, a cylindrical member adapted to be iitted over said stem and said sleeve, a transverse extension on said cylindrical member having a bore therethrough adapted to communicate with the said transverse opening in the sleeve, means to releasably retain said cylindrical member on said stern, and means on said transverse extension for connecting a fluid conduit thereto.

JOHN C. CROWLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 511,394 Yost c Dec. 26, 1893 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 581,283 Germany July 25, 1933 

